Proofer



y 1957 H. E. TEMPLE 2,799,231

PROOFER Filed May 18, 1954, 4 Shts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Hum/v1 E. TLMPLE.

BY HIS H TTO RNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PROOFER H. E. TEMPLE m t Q:

July 16, 1957 Filed May 18, 1954 llllllllllll IN VENTOR. HIRAM E. TEMPLE.

H. E. TEMPLE July 16, 1957 PROOFER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1954 L in x NT ma M 9.

y 16, 1957 H. E. TEMPLE 2,799,231

PROOFER Filed May 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 All? MOTOR VALVE. F

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501.. All? MOTOR VALVE I23 IZ/ I27 luvzivroe. HIRHM TEMPLE.

BY HIS HTTORNEY to a propelling means PROOFER Hiram E. Temple, San Gabriel, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Capitol Products Corporation, Mechanicsburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 18, 1954, Serial No. 430,707 2 Claims. (c1. 107-7 The present invention relates in general to the proofing of bread, or other goods to be baked, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for propelling carriers containing bread for proofing into and out of a proof box, together with a control system therefor, the primary object of the invention being to provide an improved apparatus and control system of this general character.

More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide a proof box having a plurality of parallel aisles or paths for the movement of bread carriers therethrough, each aisle or path through the proof box being adapted to receive several carriers in series. The carriers may, for example, be racks having shelves for the reception of straps of bread pans containing dough to be proofed, the racks being movable through the proof box along the aisles or paths on suitable track means, such as overhead monorails, although other constructions may be used in accordance with the invention.

Another object is to provide an apparatus or system wherein the aisles or paths through the proof box are located intermediate and communicate at their ends with common inlet and outlet paths, switching means being located at the junctions of the intermediate paths with the inlet and outlet paths to controltthe flow ofcarriers through the proof box. In other words, a particular carrier may be routed to any one of the aisles or paths through the proof box by actuation of the corresponding switching means, all of the carriers moving along the aisles through the proof box ultimately being routed, by the switching means at the downstream ends of such aisles, to the outlet path.

Another object is to provide the proof box with door means at the ends of each aisle or path therethrough which are openable by a carrier moving along such aisle or path, the door means closing automatically behind the carriers as they pass therethrough.

An important object is to provide overlapping first and second propelling means adjacent each aisle'or path through the proof box, the first and second propelling means adjacent each aisle or path being engageable with a carrier in such aisle and being movable in the direction of movement of such carrier therealong for moving the carrier along upstream and downstream sections, respectively, of said aisle.

Another object is to provide an apparatus wherein all of the first propelling means are continuously operable and wherein the second propelling means are intermittent ly and selectively operable, each second propelling means having a drive means which maybe energized by a manually controlled means and which is de-energized automatically by a Carrier as such carrier passes through the door means at the downstream end of the corresponding aisle. Preferably, each first propelling means is divided into two parts, one part being located outside the proof box and the other being located inside the proof box. Similarly, each second propelling means delivers carriers I located outside the proof box, the latter being continuously operable if desired. With this 2,799,231 Patented July 16, 1957 construction, there is no necessity for having any of the propelling means pass through the door means at the ends of the aisles, which is a feature of the invention.

With the foregoing construction, the various first propelling means feed carriers into the various aisles of the proof box, each carrier so introduced into the proof box advancing any carriers ahead of it in the same aisle. When it is desired to move a particular carrier from the proof box, the corresponding second propelling means is energized manually, the same being de-energized automatically by the carrier removed from the proof box as it passes through the door means at the downstream end of the corresponding aisle.

Another object is to provide in the drive for each second propelling means a clutch which is engaged by a manually controlled means, and which is disengaged by an automatically controlled means operable by a'carrier leaving the corresponding aisle through the proof box. The foregoing objects, advantages and features of the present invention, together with various other objects, ad-

vantages and featuresthereof which will become apparent, may be attained with the exemplary embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawshown,

ings and which is described in detail hereinafter. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is 'a'view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the inlet end of a proof box of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the invention showing the apparatus in the vicinity of the inlet end of the proof box;

Fig. 4 is a rightward extension. of Fig. 3 and illustrates the invention in the vicinity of the outlet end of the proof box; and

Fig. 5 is a simplified diagrammatic view of an electrical system incorporated in the invention.

Referring first to Fig. l of the drawings, the numeral 11 designates what may be termed an inlet path for bread carriers, this inlet path branching into ,a plurality of parallel, intermediate paths 13 which, in turn, flow into a common outlet path 15. i The intermediate paths 13 extend through a proof boxor proofing chamber 17 having aisles 19 corresponding to the respective intermediate paths. Switches 21 are located at the junctions of the intermediate paths 13 with the inlet path ll and corresponding switches 23 are located at the junctions of the intermediate paths with the outlet path 15, the switches 21 being controlled in any suitable manner, not shown, to route bread carriers from the inlet path 11 onto the intermediate paths 13 as desired.

The carriers hereinbefore referred to may be of any suitable construction and may be supported on any suitable track means defining the paths 11, 13 and .15. For. example, in Fig. 2 of the drawings is shown a carrier '25 in the form of a rack having a plurality of superimposed shelves 27, the rack being carried by an overhead monorail 29 defining the particular intermediate path 13 in question, similar monorails 29 being used for the other intermediate paths 13 and for the inlet and outlet paths 11 and 15.

The proof box 17, the interior of which is maintained at the desired temperature by any suitable means, not is-pr-ovided with door means 31 at the inlet or upstrearn'end of each aisle 19 and is provided with similar door means 33 at the outlet or downstream end of each aisle, each of these door means being notched at its upper end to receive the corresponding monorail 29 and hanger means 35 for the carriers 25. Each door means 31 and 33 preferably includes double doors which are springloaded closed and which are openable by the carriers .25 as the carriers are propelled along the monorails 29;,

the doors forming each door means swinging closed after passage of a carrier therethrough.

Considering the manner in which the carriers 25 are propelled along the inlet, intermediate and outlet paths 11, 13 and 15, any suitable means, not shown, for propelling them along the inlet and outlet paths 11 and 15 may be utilized. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, adjacent the upstream end of each intermediate path 13 is a propelling means 37, sometimes referred to hereinafter as a third propelling means. Each propelling means 37 is shown as comprising a chain 39 trained around sprockets 41 and 43, the sprockets 43 of the various propelling means 37 being fixed on a common shaft 45 driven off a drive means 47 through a chain 49 trained around a sprocket 51' on the shaft 45 and a sprocket 53 on a shaft 55 forming part of the main drive means 47. The shaft 55 is driven by a motor 57 through a chain 59 trained around a sprocket 61 on the shaft 55 and a sprocket 63 on the motor shaft. Thus, the propelling means 37 operate continuously as long as the motor 57 is operated, the chains 39 of the propelling means 37 being provided with fingers 65, or the like, engageable with the carriers to propel the carriers along the monorails 29 through the corresponding inlet door means 31 and into the corresponding aisles 19 Within the proof box 17.

Adjacent the respective aisles 19 within the proof box 17 are carrier propelling means 67 adapted to receive the carriers 25 from the propelling means 37 as they pass through the corresponding door means 31 and to complete the passage of such carriers into stalls 69 in the corresponding aisles 19, each aisle 19 being shown as having three stalls 69, 71 and 73, although this number may be varied. Each propelling means 67, sometimes referred to hereinafter as a first propelling means, is shown as including a chain 75 trained around sprockets 77 and 79, each sprocket 79 being fixed on a shaft 81 having fixed thereon another sprocket 83. Trained around each sprocket 83 is a chain 85 which is also trained around a sprocket 87 fixed on the shaft 55 of the main drive means 47. Thus, as will be apparent, the various propelling means 67 are continuously operated as long as the motor 57 is energized. The chains 75 of the various propelling means 67 are provided thereon with projections 89 which are engageable with lugs 91., Fig. 2, on the forward ends of the carriers 25. The propelling means 67 thus pick up the carriers as they are propelled through the respective door means 31 by the corresponding propelling means 37 and advance the carriers into the first stalls 69 in the corre sponding aisles 19, the propelling means 67 thereafter disengaging the carriers to leave them in the first stalls 69. Of course, if there previously was a carrier 25 in the first stall 69 of a particular aisle 19, it is advanced into the second stall 71 of such aisle by the succeeding carrier. Thus, any carriers already in the aisles 19 are advanced one stall by the corresponding propelling means 67, the distribution of carriers to the various aisles being under control of the operator by operation of the desired one of the switches 21.

Also adjacent each aisle 19 is what is sometimes termed hereinafter as a second propelling means 93, each of the latter overlapping the corresponding propelling means 67 and extending the full length of the corresponding aisle. Each propelling means 93 is shown as comprising a chain 95 having thereon projections 97 engageable with lugs 99 on the rearward ends of the carriers 25, the chain 95 of each propelling means 93 being trained around sprockets 101, Fig. 4, and 163, Fig. 3. Each sprocket 103 is fixed on a shaft 105 having fixed thereon another sprocket 107, the latter having trained therearound a chain 109 which is also trained around a sprocket 111 fixedly connected to one element 113 of a jaw clutch 115, the element 113 of the clutch being freely rotatable on the shaft 55 of the main drive means 47. Each clutch 115 includes an element-117 which is nonrotatably mounted on the shaft 55, but which is axially slidable thereon into and out of engagement with the corresponding element 113 to engage and disengage the correspond-ing clutch 115. The slidable element 117 of each clutch is actuated by a pivoted arm 119 which, in turn, is actuated by an air motor 121, each air motor being controlled by a solenoid valve 123, for example, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the various propelling means 93 are inoperative unless the clutches 115 are engaged.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, each solenoid valve 123 is shown as connected across an electrical power source 125 through a normally closed switch 127 and through a switch 129 of a holding relay 131, the latter being energizable by a swtich 133, which may be a manually operable, push-button switch.

Considering the operation of the various propelling means 93, it will be assumed that the operator of the system wishes to remove a carrier of proofed bread from .the proof box 17 and deliver it to the outlet path 15. Accordingly, the operator momentarily closes the push button switch 133 corresponding to the aisle 19 in which the desired carrier is disposed. Such momentary closure of the switch 133 results in energization of the holding relay 129 to energize the solenoid valve 123, which supplies air to the air motor 121 to engage the corresponding clutch 115, thereby energizing the corresponding propelling means 93. The corresponding propelling means 93 remains energized to propel that carrier in the corresponding aisle 19 which is nearest the corresponding outlet door means 33 through such door means, whereupon the carrier in question during its travel engages and momentarily opens the corresponding switch 127, Figs. 1 and 5, which results in de-energization of the corresponding solenoid valve 123, and thus in disengagement of the corresponding clutch 115 to stop the corresponding propelling means 93. Thus, in effect, all carriers in the affected aisle 19 are advanced one or more stall lengths and one such carrier is pushed out through the corresponding outlet door means 33, the corresponding propelling means 93 being automatically de-energized at this point.

Associated with each path 13-outside the proof box 17 is a propelling means 135, sometimes referred to hereinafter as a fourth propelling means. Each propelling means 135 receives a carrier 25 discharged from the proof box 17 by the corresponding propelling means 93 and delivers it through the corresponding switch 23- to the outlet path 15, where it is engaged by other propelling means, not shown. Each propelling means 135 is shown as including a chain 137 trained around sprockets 139 and 141, the sprockets 141 of the various propelling means 135 being mounted on a common shaft 143 continuously driven by an electric motor 145 through a chain 147 trained around a sprocket 149 on the motor shaft and a sprocket 151 on the shaft 143. The chain 137 of each propelling means 135 has thereon a finger 153 engageable with a carrier 25 and adapted to disengage same after propelling it out of the range of influence of the finger 153 of the propelling means.

It will be understood that the various pairs of propelling means 37 and 67 could be replaced by single propelling means, not shown, in which event it would be necessary to provide openings through the respective inlet door means 31 therefor. However, the use of pairs of propelling means in the manner illustrated avoids the use of such openings in the inlet door means 31 to reduce intermingling of air within and Without the proof box 17, which is a feature of the invention. Similar considerations are applicable to the pairs of propelling means 93 and 135.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a very flexible routing system for the carriers 25 through the proof box 17, it being possible for the operator to route carriers to any one of the aisles 19 as desired and to remove carriers from any one of the aisles as proofing of goods thereon is completed. The propelling means 67 advance the carriers 25 along the aisles 19 and disengage the carriers when they have propelled them beyond the range of influence of such propelling means so that the propelling means 67 are preferably continuously operating. By making the propelling means 93 which remove the carriers from the proof box intermittently and selectively operable, the operator may remove a carrier from any desired aisle 19 at any desired time, such carriers being delivered to the outlet path 15 in the manner indicated.

Although I have disclosed an exemplary embodiment of my invention herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by tho claims which follow.

I claim as my invention:

1. Transporting means for propelling bread dough supporting racks through the proofing chamber of a proofer, said transporting means including an overhead rail extending longitudinally through the proofing chamber and projecting beyond the ends thereof, trolley means freely movable along said rail and being adapted to support said racks, a first endless traveling chain extending longitudinally throughout substantially the length of said proofing chamber and having means projecting therefrom for engaging and propelling rac s from the inlet end of said chamber through the outlet end thereof, a second endless traveling chain extending longitudinally within said chamber from the inlet end thereof for a minor distance of the length of said chamber and having means projecting therefrom for engaging successive racks for propelling them through a minor distance of the length of said chamber, driving means for said first and second chains including a drive connection to said second chain for continuously operating the same, whereby racks are discharged from the outlet end of said proofer by said second chain solely by pressure of succeeding racks against preceding racks, said driving means including a drive connection to said first chain embodying a normally disengaged clutch, manual control means for engaging said clutch to operate said first chain for propelling racks through said chamber, and control means disposed a distance beyond the outlet end of said proofer to be engaged when a single rack propelled by said first chain has emerged from said proofer, for disengaging said clutch to render said first chain inoperative.

2. Transporting means for propelling bread dough supporting racks through the proofing chamber of a proofer, said transporting means including a plurality of laterally spaced overhead rails extending longitudinally through the proofing chamber and projecting beyond the ends thereof, trolley means freely movable along said rails and being adapted to support said racks, a respective first endless traveling chain adjacent each of said rails extending longitudinally throughout substantially the length of said proofing chamber and having means projecting therefrom for engaging and propelling racks from the inlet end of said chamber through the outlet end thereof, a respective second endless traveling chain adjacent each of said rails extending longitudinally within said chamber from the inlet end thereof for a minor distance of the length of said chamber and having means projecting therefrom for engaging successive racks for propelling them through :a minor distance of the length of said chamber, driving means for said first and second chains including a drive connection to said second chains for continuously operating the same, whereby racks are discharged from the outlet end of said proofer by said second chains solely by pressure of succeeding racks against preceding racks, said driving means including a respective drive connection to each of said first chains, each of said respective drive connections including a normally disengaged clutch, respective manual control means for engaging respective clutches for independent operation of said first chains for propelling racks through said chamber, and respective control means for said respective clutches disposed a distance beyond the outlet end of said proofer to be engaged when a single rack propelled by a respective first chain has emerged from said proofer, for disengaging said respective clutch to render said respective first chain inoperative.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 761,484 Hetzel May 31, 1904 905,047 Bascom Nov. 24, 1908 1,454,675 Gantvoort May 8, 1923 2,040,353 Wilson May 12, 1936 2,292,284 Ogden Aug. 4, 1942 2,342,598 Ozouf Feb. 22, 1944 

